Chapter 441

January 26, the inspection team of the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department arrived in Yingjiang, conducting an organizational inspection of Executive Vice Mayor Lu Fan, Ganshui County Party Secretary Guo Xiaopeng, and Hongqi County Party Secretary Han Tiance!

At the same time, it was announced that Municipal Political and Legal Committee Secretary Chen Zijun was reassigned as Deputy Municipal Party Secretary; Vice Mayor and Public Security Bureau Chief Ye Chen was reassigned as a member of the Municipal Party Standing Committee and Municipal Political and Legal Committee Secretary; Standing Committee Vice Mayor Yang Shaokai was reassigned as Executive Vice Mayor; Vice Mayor Bian Jide finally got his wish and was placed on the Standing Committee.

Si Daiqiang had been active for several days and finally achieved some results; Guo Xiaopeng was able to be promoted to Vice Mayor and concurrently Chief of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, a candidate recommended after careful consideration by Si Daiqiang; although Secretary Guo Mingxiong has left, his "remaining prestige" still lingers—who would dare to refuse this face?

At the same time, Han Tiance was also "squeezed" into the municipal government leadership team, this being the recommendation of Party Secretary Li Ruifang.

Soon, the inspection notice was posted in the municipal party compound; Lu Fan is tentatively appointed to a full director-level position in a provincial-directly administered unit; Guo Xiaopeng and Han Tiance are tentatively nominated for deputy positions in the regional government.

Facing the organizational talk, Lu Fan made a heartfelt "confession": "In the blink of an eye, fifteen years have passed; I have tilled this land of glorious tradition, dedicating my modest ka to the wellbeing of my hometown people, which is the greatest fortune and highest mission of my life. Over these years, I have always held a heart of sincerity and reverence, devoting myself to the vivid practice of swiftly building a prosperous, beautiful, and happy Yingjiang; the mountains and rivers, every blade of grass and tree here, have been deeply smelted into my blood, becoming an inseparable attachment of my heart."

The happiest thing in the world is nothing more than striving for ideals and shouldering heavy responsibilities to move forward. Time is the most faithful recorder; over these fifteen years, with the support of comrades, I have worked diligently, taken responsibility, overcome difficulties, fighting one battle after another, storming one stronghold after another, welcoming one harvest joy after another. At the same time, I also feel that many matters and work have not been done enough, not done well, not as wished, leaving many regrets!

Native soil is hard to leave, native garden hard to part from. Yingjiang has tempered me and given me inexhaustible strength; thereafter, no matter what post I hold, I will devote myself with full work enthusiasm and a high sense of responsibility.

After the talk ended, Lu Fan returned to his office and found that Secretary Mu Lankai's office was crowded with people, and some leaders were also standing in the corridor.

Lu Fan smiled and invited everyone into his office, accepting the congratulations of the comrades.

Only after afternoon work ended did the crowd gradually disperse.

Mu Lankai came in to tidy the office, gathered courage and asked: "Mayor, are you going to the Education Department? Can I continue to serve you?"

Since serving the leader, Mu Lankai has been down-to-earth, diligent, and eager to learn; she does things with method and conducts herself with propriety, works conscientiously, and has a deep literary foundation. Lu Fan is very satisfied with this secretary, and smilingly said: "If there are no family concerns, and you don't mind the trouble of attending to me, then come along!"

Hearing the leader's affirmative statement, Mu Lankai was overjoyed and said: "Mayor, I will certainly fulfill my duties and responsibilities, cooperate well and serve your work well!"

Likewise, Deputy Secretary-General Duan Yongjiao also expressed to Lu Fan the idea of following him to the Education Department; Lu Fan did not refuse, and the adjustment of division-level cadres within the department can be decided, only needing to be filed with the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department.

The next day, the organizational inspection extended to the Municipal Party Committee Office and Ganshui, but basically there was nothing concerning Lu Fan; the inspection would not encounter any problems, Lu Fan had confidence, and Party Secretary Li Ruifang would not allow any issues.

At ten o'clock in the morning, Deputy Director of the Education Department Ma Yajun and Director of Basic Construction Section One Zhao Sijie came to Yingjiang Municipal Government to report in advance to the future director.

After entering, Ma Yajun excitedly said: "Director, hearing the news of your coming to the Education Department, I was almost overjoyed, and I can again carry out work under your leadership!"

Zhao Sijie also smiled and said: "Director, I have specially come to 'pay respects' following Director Ma; we can work together again!"

Back then, Zhao Sijie was the deputy county chief in charge of education, while Lu Fan had just been promoted to director of the Education Bureau. Now, her former subordinate has become her direct superior!

Lu Fan laughed and said: "Calling me 'Director' is premature; the Provincial Party Standing Committee has not yet convened, everything is subject to change, so I dare not get carried away."

The two did not say much more; although it's said that without seeing the appointment document nothing is settled, Ma Yajun had already inquired and found that both the Secretary Office meeting and the five-person group meeting had unanimously approved the appointment of the Education Department director, making it almost a done deal, because in recent years there has been no exception.

Lu Fan asked: "Has the office director of the Education Department gone along to take up the post?"

Ma Yajun replied: "Yes, he went down to serve as the Secretary-General of the Municipal Government."

Lu Fan then asked: "Are there any other vacancies at the mid-level in the Education Department now?"

Ma Yajun said without hesitation: "Within the internal institutions, the Stability Office has retired, and the head of the Finance Department clearly stated he wants benefits and to retire to the second line; among the directly affiliated units, the Education Examination Institute, that is, the provincial admissions office director has been transferred out, and the head of the Financial Aid Center has left the post, leaving these positions temporarily vacant."

Lu Fan laughed and said to Zhao Sijie: "You've been a section chief for several years, right? The Admissions Office is a directly affiliated unit of the department, independently managing personnel, finances, and materials, and carries relatively great weight in the department; do you have any intention?"

Hearing this, Zhao Sijie felt moved, but after thinking she said: "The Admissions Office is too busy, Director; I need to go back and discuss it with Xiaohua."

Lu Fan replied: "No rush, let's talk after the New Year. Yajun, will Duan Yongjiao taking the post of department office chief encounter any resistance?"

Ma Yajun thought and said: "It's not a big problem, after all the office chief mainly serves the director; everyone still has this awareness. Director, this is the basic situation of the Education Department and the province-wide education system."

Lu Fan received the materials and said: "It's good to study first; you two, after lunch, hurry back, lest others gossip."

After afternoon work began, the Education Department received more visitors, who even brought their families.

This time it was the head of the department's Organization Department, Shi Hao, who is the husband of Chen Mutxue, the head of Ganshui County's Organization Department; two years ago he tried to get promoted from the Human Resources and Social Security Department to the Education Department. Such situations usually involve people with connections, because in the original unit one needs to go by seniority, so they simply switch units to achieve a lateral promotion.

Shi Hao had come in advance to 'pay respects'; Chen Mutxue was visiting the old leader; the couple were very tactful, they did not discuss work, showed their faces and then 'withdrew', leaving only a box of ordinary tea.

As work was about to end, Deputy Director of the Education Department Hu Yumei brought Deputy Office Chief Zhao Ze to visit.

Lu Fan warmly received them, but refused to talk about work.

Being able to come is a good thing; at the very least it shows an intention to lean in. Going to the Education Department is a transition; Lu Fan did not intend to fully control the situation, as long as everyone cooperates with his work. But if someone is oblivious, it is inevitable to 'kill a chicken to scare the monkeys' to safeguard the authority of the top leader.

The next day, the inspection ended; the team leader and Party Secretary Li Ruifang exchanged opinions, formed the inspection factual material, and returned to the province.

A few days later it would be Lunar New Year; Lu Fan simply took leave and returned to the capital, otherwise the leaders of the provincial Education Department would all come flocking to 'pay respects', as the saying goes: 'Those who come, the leader may not remember; those who don't come, the leader will have a deep impression.'

Upon arriving at the North Headquarters hutong, it so happened that Provincial Party Secretary Hua Yuan Province Hao Guangqi came to pay New Year's respects to Old Li; Lu Fan warmly exchanged greetings without overstepping bounds.

Hao Guangqi laughed and said: "Lu Fan, I heard from the old leader that you have been inspected; young and capable, indeed deserving of the title of national outstanding county party secretary—congratulations!"

Lu Fan sincerely replied: "Thank you, Secretary Hao, for your concern; I still have many immature aspects and need continual learning and improvement. I will continue to strive, not letting down everyone's expectations of me!"

Old Li smiled and said: "Lu Fan, the cook has stewed lamb; go give him some guidance, but don't ruin the meat!"

Lu Fan rose and said: "Secretary Hao, you must definitely try my cooking. Grandfather, I'm going to help out!"

After Lu Fan left, Hao Guangqi showed a stern expression and said: "Old leader, the mayor of Nanyuan City is suspected of corruption and embezzlement; we have so far gathered some evidence, in the allocation of funds, project contracting, government procurement, etc., he has sought benefits for others, illegally received huge amounts of property from others, preliminarily estimated to exceed one hundred million!"

Old Li sighed and said: "You can know a person's face but not their heart; as a party member leading cadre, having lost ideals and beliefs, abandoned the original mission, in such a severe anti-corruption situation, he still does not restrain himself, does not stop, knows no bounds; the nature is serious, the impact bad, you continue to investigate deeply, grasp solid evidence, and handle it as it should be handled!"

After a few words, Old Li suddenly said: "Nanyuan's industrial foundation and transportation system have certain advantages; the highway, aviation, and water transport systems are complete, and grain output occupies an important position nationwide. Industrially, biomedicine, electronic information, new materials, new energy, etc., are rapidly developing, forming a trillion-yuan-level industrial cluster. Moreover, it possesses profound historical and cultural heritage, is a historic cultural city, has nurtured many historical figures, and provides important support for the development of tourism and cultural industries. At the same time, Nanyuan also has some problems, such as a poor business environment, failing to make good use of its innate advantages, thus development has not reached expected effects. I think Nanyuan needs to be equipped with a leading cadre who is diligent, enterprising, and tenacious, daring to take risks, break conventions, act decisively and forge ahead, in order to push the economy and society forward by leaps and bounds."

Hao Guangqi, after a little thought, grasped the spirit of Old Li's words and said: "The disciplinary committee's approach: investigation and evidence collection must strictly follow regulations, discipline, and law, gathering and distinguishing evidence comprehensively and objectively, forming a mutually corroborating, complete and stable evidence chain, so that the conclusions can stand firm. This is a rigorous and meticulous task; I will manage the time nodes well. Old leader, the Party Secretary of Nanyang City, Wang Haiyang, after exerting his remaining enthusiasm for another two years will reach the age to retire to the second line."

Old Li nodded and said: "The best period for young cadres to grow and mature is when we provide them with a broader stage, fully mobilize and stimulate their potential, thus helping young cadres accelerate their growth and talent in the overall development."